Insiders told us that staff were in panicked meetings all day on Monday. “It’s a s - - t show. No one wants to withstand a whole week of criticism over this. There are a number of people who want to pull the interview.”

But another source told us NBC needs the controversy to shake up their Sunday night and to bring new viewers. “No one expected sponsors to pull out, but this is why they hired Megyn. They expect to lose and gain viewers and they want the buzz.”

The interview has left many at the network scratching their heads, but NBC News chairman Andy Lack was overheard telling fellow journalists at Tuesday’s Mirror Awards that the interview will air.

“There’s been a lot of confusion, but as of now, they are not pulling the interview,” another insider said.

Kelly addressed the backlash on Tuesday. “I find Alex Jones’ suggestion that Sandy Hook was ‘a hoax’ as personally revolting as every other rational person does. It left me, and many other Americans, asking the very question that prompted this interview: How does Jones, who traffics in these outrageous conspiracy theories, have the respect of the president of the United States and a growing audience of millions?”